Faces in the Crowd: Rebecca Lee

FACES IN THE CROWDUH researcher focuses on choices affecting healthRebecca Lee part of mayor's health council

BARRETT GOLDSMITH, Chronicle Correspondent

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, May 5, 2005

Rebecca Lee doesn't research the effects of lifestyle on health for herself. She does it for everyone.

Lee, 38, is an assistant professor of health and human performance at the University of Houston. Her research focuses on lifestyle choices that affect health, particularly those that cause weight loss or obesity.

White formed the group in response to an obesity study by Men's Fitness magazine, which dubbed Houston, "The fattest city in Houston."

"The strategy is to find a way to either refute the claim if it's not true, or to correct the problem if it is true," Lee said. "Houston is in a very dynamic period and I think Houstonians are a lot more active than this study would suggest."

Lee said the modern world's premium on convenience and instant gratification has forced people into a pattern of poor eating habits and physical sloth.

"We have pretty much engineered physical activity out of our lives," Lee said. "With all the advances in medicine and treatment, we're as unhealthy as we've ever been."

But the health problem extends beyond the individual level, Lee said. She said the government should be more proactive in promoting health and physical fitness.

"Obviously it's very important to fight terrorism and keep us safe. But more people die from lack of activity, from poor dietary habits and from smoking," Lee said.

As a dietary and obesity specialist, Lee frequently receives questions about dieting and weight loss. But she said no magic pill, gimmick or health secret can substitute for a major or minor lifestyle change. She said weight loss is not easy, especially with so many forces allied against good health.

The change does not have to be big, she said. Consuming 100 fewer calories — less than the amount in most canned soft drinks — every day can trim as much as 10 pounds over the course of one year.

Walking for 30 minutes each day is even more effective, she added.

Lee will soon complete her first year at the University of Houston after beginning in August. Her arrival in Houston came after four years as an assistant professor at the University of Kansas.

Next fall, she will teach a class on obesity, which she called "a buffet-style course" with multiple educational elements.

After receiving her bachelor's degree and master's degree in psychology from San Diego State, Lee earned a doctoral degree in human services psychology from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Lee is single and lives in Houston. When she can find the time, which she said is rare, she cuts loose with Latin dancing.

She also enjoys absorbing culture at museums and plays, and spending time at the beach.

"I used to be a professional singer," Lee said. "Sometimes I find myself breaking into song when no one is around.